6 Tricks That Will Help Turbocharge Your Weight Watchers Meal Plans

The best Weight Watchers tricks can help you turbocharge your weight loss — and keep the pounds off in the long run. As you likely know, Weight Watchers has been the go-to for millions of women who want solid advice and steady results. But some people do struggle with the points-based program, finding it a challenge to stay on track or to maintain their early successes.

After asking around, we discovered that for every struggling Weight Watcher, there’s another who truly excels in the plan, allowing her to eat significantly more food when she makes healthier choices. "Members now have to 'work the system' to see exciting numbers on the scale — and many of them are doing just that," reveals Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson Marjorie Nolan, RD. Adds LiveStrong.com diet expert Mike Roussell, PhD: "The things these women do can help every single dieter out there — whether she uses Weight Watchers or not — double, even triple her pounds lost!"

Best Way to Lose Weight on Weight Watchers

Here are some of the best Weight Watchers tricks that are working for real people. While not every piece of advice may be relevant for you, you should be able to glean plenty of helpful tips for maximizing your weight loss on the Weight Watchers plan — and for staying slim and healthy long term.

To pinpoint the secrets of Weight Watchers-style fat-melting, we assembled a panel of members who have whisked off an average of 70 pounds apiece. Use their tips with the special Weight Watchers-inspired eating plan, or with whatever healthy diet you already use. Roussell promises, "You won’t be disappointed."

1. Frontload calories for weight loss.

Ask 100-pounds-slimmer Jill Grunenwald how she got her Weight Watchers results, and the 30-year-old Cleveland librarian says, “I always, always eat a big breakfast. It literally keeps me on track all day.” Science backs her up. One study found that a big breakfast shifts hormonal balance heavily in favor of skinny jeans — lowering hunger hormones, increasing at least two different hormones linked to faster calorie burning, and increasing overall weight loss by about 300 percent.

2. Make good carbs great.

“Weight Watchers now allows unlimited fruit and more whole grains — a healthy change,” says Nolan. “However, even these good carbs raise blood sugar. If sugar spikes enough, it triggers hormones that slow fat-burning.” When frustrated Weight Watchers hit internet message boards, fast losers urge them to eat good carbs in combination. “Protein and good fat counteract the fattening impact of carbs on blood sugar,” says Nolan. For 20-pounds-slimmer Jackie Just, that means “I learned to have almonds with my fruit, [and] eggs with my whole-grain toast.” The Minneapolis mom, 35, used the combo trick to triple her weight loss.

3. Make "zero" calories count.

Weight Watchers doesn’t limit zero-cal drinks, but they’re not all equal. “Diet soda makes me crave junk,” says Ontario reader Trish Morley, 27, who was down approximately 10 pounds in just two weeks. “By comparison, green tea curbs my urge to eat.” Bonus: Studies show that six cups of the brew daily boosts metabolism by four percent.

4. Be smart about frozen meals.

Occasional frozen dinners are fine, but eating too many can slow progress. Why? They’re usually loaded with salt, “which stimulates hunger,” notes Roussell. A Brazilian study also hints that too much salt activates hormones that make fat cells fill faster. “Frozen meals left me perpetually bloated,” says New York mom Lourdes Brezo, 52, who lost eight pounds in a week while testing tips on these pages. “I cut salt for a week, and it made as big a difference as a personal trainer.”

5. Save for a metabolism-shocking splurge.

Back when panel member Jackie Just was scrimping every single day, the scale was not her friend. She found a much better strategy: Saving extra “points” or calories — about 500 calories — for a big weekend indulgence. “I go out to eat, I have a delicious meal, drink wine, and I lose faster than with nonstop deprivation.” The scientific explanation: Keeping calories at a continuous low brings on psychological cravings and slows metabolism. By contrast, Cornell University researchers found that a splurge revs metabolism by about 14 percent.

6. Listen for the signal that you're full.

Weight Watchers gives members a daily allotment of food measured in “points.” They get weekly bonus points to use whenever they like and even more extra points if they exercise. “I only use them if I’m hungry,” says 116-pounds-slimmer Massachusetts bookkeeper Jen Gadowski, 56, echoing the sentiments of many big weight losers. Roussell gives the strategy a thumbs-up. “Eat when you’re hungry, and stop when you’re full, and you’ll almost always eat less overall and yet feel more satisfied,” he insists. “Weight Watchers or any other plan is just a blueprint. It gets you going in the right direction, but you have to adapt it to what works best for your body.”

Weight Watchers Tricks: Eating Plan

Our nutrition team worked with a panel of super-successful Weight Watchers’ members to create this quick-results plan. (The menus average about 27 “points” or 1,500 calories a day.) Very-low-calorie extras (herbs, spices, vinegar) are unlimited. Water and other zero-cal beverages are also unlimited, but do consider opting for 3-6 cups of green tea daily. Add a 500-calorie weekend splurge. As always, get a doctor’s OK before trying any new plan.